Cotton-cleaner.



s. u. MURRAY.

v COTTON CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, I915.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

SHEETS-SHEET I.

COTTON CLEANER, APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1915..

PatentedAug. 21,1911.

5 SHEETS*SHEET 2.

3.0. MURRAY. COTTON CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6' 19!?)- PatentedAug. 21, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- S. D. MURRAY. 7,

COTTON CLEANER. APPLICATION- FILED MAY 6 1915.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- wwgw WW? muraw -s. n. MURRAY.

COTTON CLEANER- APPLICATION FILED wave; I915.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

5 SHEETS SHEET 5.

STEPHEN D. MURRAY, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

COTTON-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 6, 1915. Serial No. 26,388.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN D. MURRAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Cleaners, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton cleaners which serve as accessories incotton ginning operations and in the present instance are used with apneumatic cotton distributing elevator or conveying means cooperatingwith gin feeders. In cotton cleaners as heretofore constructed astationary foraminous case or drum having inlet and exit or outletopenings with a rotary shaft extending centrally through the same hasbeen provided with a plurality of beater arms, and therewith also asuction apparatus and a bypass have been used. In the presentimprovements .in cotton cleaners or cleaning apparatus the bypassfeatures as heretofore employed are wholly eliminated. The improvedcleaner is associated with the well known form of cotton elevator and islocated at a point or in a space usually unoccupied and does notintercept or is not embodied in the direct line of the members of thecotton elevator and may therefore be readily applied to the usual formsof cotton elevators now in use without requiring any material structuralchanges in the latter to accommodate the same to the application of theimproved cleaner. Associated with the improved cleaning apparatus is areadily adjustable means whereby the, seed cotton may be caused to passthrough the cleaner or be conveyed directly to the ginning apparatuswithout traversing the cleaner in accordance with the condition of thecotton as to its cleanliness, so that in the run of cotton to be ginned,that portion thereof' which may be clean may be directly delivered tothe gins by cutting out the cleaner,

and any portion thereof which appears dirty and requires cleaning may beinstantly directed into and be treated by the cleaner and thence pass tothe ginning apparatus by a very simple operation and without checking orstopping the actuation of the cotton able to instantly throw the cleanerin and out with relation to the cotton elevator within the cleaner is aplurality of beater arms which operate on the cotton to thoroughlyeliminate dust and dirt therefrom prior to the delivery thereof to thecotton elevator and the cleaner in the present instance is also equippedwith means for automatically regulating and checking the flow of thecotton thereto so that in the event the belt or driving mechanism foractuating the beater shaft slips from the latter, or this mechanism fromsome other cause fails to operate the said shaft, the body of thecleaner will not become clogged or choked with cotton as the suctionwill be automatically cut off by the checked cotton relatively to theinlet extremity of the cleaner, and after the irregularity in theoperating mechanism for the cleaner has been rectified and the beaterarms are again actuated the feeding progress of the cotton through thecleaner is continued without requiring manual attention, with materialadvantages in the expeditious operation of the cleaner and withoutinterfering with the output of'a ginning plant within a given time.Moreover, this automatic check and subsequent liberation of the cottonflow relatively to the cleaner avoids strain or disadvantageous shock onthe several parts of the cleaner. In the present application andoperation of the improved cleaner the suction influence is exertedthrough the usual suction pipe of the cotton elevator by Way of theoutlet of the cleaner so that suction is exerted through the cleaneranddraws the cotton into the latter at the inlet end through theelevating tube or pipe which may be arranged adjacent to a wagon orother cotton supply, and the automatic flow regulation and check of thecotton are important in the general operation of the cleaner and thecotton elevator as a whole. Another important feature of the presentimprovement and a valuable accessory is a readily adjustable elevatorpipe or tube which runs to a wagon or other source of cotton supply,said pipe or tube being supported by a slide valve quickly, operative tocause the Patented Aug. 21, 1917.-

one end of the said elevator pipe or tube to be coupled or coincide witheither the inlet pipe or tube of the cleaner or the conveying pipe ortube of the cotton elevator, the said elevating pipe or tube when inoperative juncture with the inlet pipe of the cleaner closing theadjacent extremity of the conveying pipe or tube of the cotton elevatorthrough the medium of the slide valve, and, conversely, when theelevating pipe or tube is shifted by the slide valve to engage theconveying pipe or tube of the cotton elevator, the inlet pipe of thecleaner is closed or cut off, and under the latter conditions thecleaner remains dormant or becomes practically a dead air chamber as thesuction then ceases to exert its influence through the cleaner. In theevent that the cotton requires only a moderate cleaning operation, theinlet of the cottonto the cleaner may be effected at an intermediatepoint and be caused to pass through only a portion of the cleaner or beshort-circuited. This provision is also another important feature of thepresent improvement.

Other features of structural importance,

' together with numerous advantages, will be hereinafter more fullyexplained, and in the accompanying drawings the preferred form of theimproved cleaner is illustrated to demonstrate the practicabilitythereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of a battery of gins withthe usual complement of feeders and a pneumatic distributing elevatorillustrating the improved cleaner applied thereto.

F i 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 22, Fig. 1,particularly showing the outlet of the cleaner and the directcommunication of the outlet with the conveying pipe or tube of thepneumatic distributing elevator.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line33, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of the cleaner takenin the plane of the line 4- 1, Fig. 1 and showing the inlet pipe inelevation and a portion of the ele vator pipe or tube, together with theslide valve.

Fig. 5 is a front side elevation of the organization illustrated by Fig.1 and showing the elevator pipe adjusted to coincide with and feed tothe supply pipe of the cleaner.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 66, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of thefiexiblejoint or coupling of the elevator pipe or tube.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section on the line 8'-8, Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse vertical section on the line 9-9, Fig.5.

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line1010, Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of theline 11-11, Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a detail section taken in the plane of the line 1212, Fig.11. I Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the organization showing amodification of the construction to control communication of theelevator pipe either with the feed and supply pipe of the cleaner orwith the penumatic conveying or distributing pipe of the distributingelevator.

The numeral 5 designates the cleaner box or casing which may be of anysuitable dimensions, and, as clearly shown by Fig. 4 on an enlargedscale, is provided with an interiorly arranged longitudinally disposedscreen drum or cylinder 6 which is formed of wire gauze of suitable meshand connects at a point near the outlet of the cleaner with a sheetmetal drum or cylinder 7 which is supplemental to the main drum 6 andfacilitates the delivery of the cleaned cotton through the outlet. Thedrum or cylinder *6 and the supplemental drum or cylinder 7 aresupported within the casing or box 5 in the usual manner, as will bereadily understood by those skilled'in the art. Except in particularswhich will be hereinafter noted, the casing or box 5 is formed as atight inclosure so that it may be subjected to air suction withoutleakage and to effect the cleaning operation relatively to the cottonpassing therethrough in a most desirable manner. The casing or box 5 hasa closed head 8 at one end in which is a suitable bearing 9, and in theopposite end is a head 10 havlng a bearing 11 supported thereby, and ata short distance inwardly from the head 10 is a partition 12 formed withan enlarged central opening 13 and a plurality of smaller openings 14.adjacent to the periphery thereof, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4.The cleaner as a whole has a pentagonal form in cross-section, asindicated by Figs. 2 and 3, and is provided with a lower dust trough 15.Extending centrally through the wire screen drum or cylinder 6 and thesupplemental sheet metal drum or cylinder 7 and mounted in the bearings9 and 11 in the heads 8 and 10 is a beater shaft 16 which has aplurality of beater arms 17 disposed thereon, said arms being of flatmetal of suitable width and having their outer ends 18 turned at such anangle as to throw the cotton out against the screen wall of the drum orcylinder 6 and cause the cotton to wash the latter and at the same timefeed the cotton forwardly toward the outlet of the cleaner. The beaterarms 17 are disposed at angles relatively to each other and tangentiallyto the shaft 16, as clearly shown by Fig. 2, and the outer ends of thesearms are close enough to the wire gauze drum or cylinder 6 to cause thecotton to be agitated close to the said drum or cylinder during itstransit through the latter in order to thoroughly relieve the cotton ofdust and dirt and at the same time cause the cotton to be practicallyfed or progressed through the said drum or cylinder. Between the head 10and the partition 12 an automatic cotton flow regulator and check isformed as a part of the cleaner, and consists of a chamber 19 having awire gauze inclosure 20 independent of the wire gauze drum or cylinder6. The shaft 16 continues through the lower portion. of the chamber 19and has thereon a plurality of beater arms 21 which are similar to thearms 17 but of less extent than the latter and also less in theirprojection from the shaft 16 partially thereover and covering an inletopening 22 in one end of the casing top over the chamber 19 and also anintermediate opening 23, the end of the inclosure 5 being slopeddownwardly at the end 5 thereof over the opening 22 to direct the cottonthrough the latter opening. In the inclosure 5 adjacent to the opening23 a valve .23 is mounted and is of such proportions that when it isopened or raised the remaining part of the inclosure back to the opening22 will be out off from the feed or cotton supply and the cotton will becaused to pass through the opening 23. The valve 23 is connected to andmay be readily opened and closed by an exteriorly projecting valve rod25 having a depending operating lever 26 extending over the front of acotton elevator and associated apparatus within easy reaching distanceof an operator. The valve 25 is closed over the opening 23 when thecotton is fed to the opening 22. This cotton inlet organization providesfor treating and cleaning dirty .cotton by causing the latter totraverse the full length of the cleaner, or moderately dirty cotton maybe admitted through the opening 23 and only partially pass through thecleaner. In other words, the cleaner has a short-circuiting capabilityand operation to adapt the same for handling cotton of variouscharacteristics that may not be able to stand the full cleaningoperation of the cleaner. The inlet inclosure 5 has a supply pipe 24connected to the end thereof adjacent to the opening 23, said pipecontinuing over the top of the cleaner in the present instance at anangle, as clearly shown by Fig. 1, to one side of the rear extremity ofthe cleaner for a purpose which will be presently explained.

The partition 12 and the usual supports for the screen drum or cylinder6 and the cylinder 7 do not fully extend downwardly to the trough 15 sothat a longitudinally disposed feed-screw 27 may be mounted andpractically operated in the said trough to convey the accumulated dustand dirt in the trough 15 to an outlet opening 28, which in the presentinstance is shown as having a pipe or tube 28 attached thereto and pro:vided with a flexible valve 28 which operates to automatically close the.pipe 28 through the suction in the cleaner and also has anautomatically opening operation when a certain amount of dust and dirthas been deposited in the pipe 28 on the said valve and when the weightof the dust and dirt overcomes the closure resistance of the valve, andat such time the valve will open and permit the accumulated dust anddirt to pass the same and be carried away by and from the pipe 28 belowthe valve, and after such relief operation the valve will be againclosed by the suction in the cleaner. The feed-screw or conveyer 27 hasspiral blades 29 extending over a greater portion thereof at such anangle as to feed the contents of the trough engaged thereby from therear toward the front of the cleaner to the outlet 28, and the forwardportion of the said feed-screw or conveyer has blades 30 reverselydisposed with relation to the blades 29 and operative to feed thecontents of the trough engaged thereby rearwardly toward the outlet 28.The feed-screw or conveyer 27 is operated from the shaft 16, as shown,and the latter will, of course, be actuated from any suitable powersource.

Over the forward portion of the feedscrew or conveyer 27 a deflector orshield 31 is mounted in the lower part of the chamber 19 so as todiminish the suction force through the opening 14 in the wall 12 adjacent to the forward extremity of the feedscrew 27 and trough 15. Inpractice the wire gauze inclosure 20 will be of coarser mesh than thewire gauze of the drum or cylinder 6 so as to more readily liberate thedust and dirt from the cotton as it comes into the chamber 19 and isacted upon by the arms 21. It willbe understood that the largerparticles of dust and dirt will be liberated from the cotton in thechamber 19 and fall through the bottom portion of the screen inclosurein view of the fact that the cotton under ordinary conditions at thetime that it enters thechamber 19 will carry a greater amount of dustand dirt, and the arms 21 in addition to their feeding characteristicsalso operate to beat the cotton and free the latter of a portion of itsdust and dirt in the chamber 19, It will also be understood that aquantity of dust and dirt will fall under and adjacent to the chamber 19or between the head 10 and the partition 12 and near the latter, andhence the feedscrew or conveyer 27 is constructed, as hereinbeforeexplained, to quickly carry 011' or convey the dust-and dirt to theoutlet 28; and along the remaining portion of the ing tube 40 of thewell trough 15 the maximum deposit of dust and dirt-will ensue as thecotton traverses the drum or cylinder 6 and will also be regularlydischarged by the feed-screw or conveyer to the said outlet 28 in viewof the reverse position of the blades 29 on the portion of thefeed-screw under the cylinder. It will also be seen that the beater arms21, forming part of the cotton flow regulating and checking means, arecloser together than the beater arms 17 for the purpose of rapidlyforcing the incoming cotton up to and through the opening 13 in thepartition 12.

At the end of the cleaner opposite that where the automatic cotton flowregulating and checking means are located, an outlet or exit opening 36is formed, as shown particularly by Figs. 2 and 11, said openingextending through the upper portion of the supplemental sheet metal drumor cylinder 7 and on the shaft 16 adjacent to the said outlet opening agroup of arms 37 is secured, and these arms have their outer ends orextremities 38 turned nearly fiat so as to be more efiective fordischarging the cotton coming in contact therewith through the saidoutlet opening. In other words, the group of arms 37 does not have alongitudinal feeding action relatively to the cotton, and the outerextremities 38 of the arms are consequently at a different anglerelatively to the outer ends or extremities 18 of the arms 17, or, asabove noted, the said extremities 38 of the arms 37 are nearly flat. Thecotton discharged through the outlet or exit opening 36 enters areceiving chamber 39 which is a continuation or a part of the outlet,but is of materially greater dimensions than the outlet opening 36, andthe cotton passing thereinto may expand so as to be more practicallydischarged or delivered into the distributin pipe or conveyown pneumaticcotton distributing elevator organization as illustrated by Fig. 6, andalso embodying a suctionypipe 41 which is connected to a fan, as at 4 2,the pneumatic cotton distributing elevator extending over the upperportions of the feeders 43 of the gins 44, as shown by Figs. 1 and 5.The pipes or tubes 40 and 41 comprised in the pneumatic cottondistributing elevator are of the usual construction and arrangement andare well understood in the art of ginning organizations and supply meanstherefor, the said pneumatic cotton distributing elevator 1 organizationbeing clearly illustrated in crosssection by Fig. 6. The conveying ordistributing pipe or tube 40 intersects the outer extremity of thechamber 39, or said chamber extends into this pipe or tube 40, asclearly shown by Figs. 9 and 11, and for this purpose the pipe or tube40 adjacent to the outer extremity of the chamber 39 is cut away, as

at 45, and the side walls 46 of the chamber 39 are also concaved or cutaway in arcuate form, as at 47, to coincide with and correspond to theinner arcuate form of the tube or pipe 40. The sides 46 of the chamber39 are preferably of wood and are secured to the adjacent side portionof the casing 5 by angle and flat coupling plates 48 and 49, and the topand bottom walls 50 and 51 of said chamber are formed of sheet metal ofsuitable thickness and are flanged at their inner ends andalso securedto the adjacent side portion of the casing 5 of the cleaner and at theirouter ends are attached to the upper and lower portions of the conveyingor distributing, tube or pipe 40, as clearly shown by Fig. 9. It will beunderstood that the conveying'or distributing tube or pipe 40 continuesfully to the outer side wall 46 of the chamber 39, but the suction tubeor pipe 41 extends only to a point adjacent to the inner side wall 46 ofthe said chamber 39, the said tubes or pipes 40 and 41 being supportedthroughout their lengths rela tively to each other and to the battery ofgins 44 by any suitable means.

A valve plate 52 is secured against the outer surface of the outer sidewall 46 of the chamber 39, the said valve plate being disposedvertically and having upper and lower openings 53 and 54 and alsoprovided with vertical guides 55 which are fastened thereto and extendfully from the top edge to the bottom edge thereof. The said valve plate52 has the outer end of the conveying or distributing tube or pipe 40abutting thereagainst and coinciding with the lower opening 54, the saidouter end of the tube or pipe 40 being secured to the head by asegmental rim 56, as clearly shown by Fig. 9. The valve plate 52 is alsosecured to the outer side wall 46 of the chamber 39 by bolts or othersuitable fastenings, as at 57, engaging an inwardly projecting extension58 of the said valve plate, as also shown by Fig. 9, and by this meansthe plate is rigidly supported. The outer end of the cotton supply pipe24 for the cleaner is also secured against the inner side of the plate52 by a flanged ring 59 so that the said outer end of the supply pipe 24is firmly held to the plate 52 and assists in supporting the latter, theouter end of the supply pipe 24 coinciding with the upper opening 53 ofthe plate. The uides 55 are secured against the outer side 0 the plate52, and engaging and vertically movable between these guides is anelongated valve or cutoff 60 consisting of a metal plate 'of suitablethickness and havingv a single opening 61 therein and upper and lowerstops 62 and 63. A suitable operating rod or handle 64 is attached tothe thereof may be caused to register either 7 with the supply pipe 24of the cotton cleaner plate 52 and the tube or pipe 40, and the upperopening 53 and the cotton supply pipe 24 for the cleaner will be cut offor closed. When the valve 60 is moved upwardly between the guides 55 andthe stop 63 engages the lower end of the one guide 55, the opening 61 ofthe valve will then be in accurate registration with the upper opening53 of the valve plate 52 and also with the cotton supply pipe 24 and thelower opening 54 and the adjacent entrance to the tube or pipe 40 willbe cut off or closed. The

,valve 60 may be easily operated and the rod or handle 6.4 is made ofsuch length as to be within easy reaching distance of the floor of theginnery.

Over the opening 61 of the valve 60 and against the outer side of thelatter the inner end of'an elevating tube or pipe 65 is permanentlysecured, being held, for instance by an angle rim or annulus 66, asshown by Fig. 11. The elevating tube or pipe 65 may be of any suitablelength, and these elevating tubes or pipes as ordinarily used have theirouter ends adapted to be de pressed and elevated so as to engage a loadof cotton in a wagon, and as soon as the cotton is fully elevated fromthe wagon the tube or pipe 65 is raised to permit another wagon to bedrawn thereunder and is again lowered, and so on; or the said elevatingtube or pipe may run to a storage room or inclosure, as may be desired.It will be seen that the inner end of the elevating tube or pipe 65 ismoved regularly with the valve or cutoff 60 to register either with theconveying or distributing tube or pipe 40 or the cotton supply pipe 24for the cleaner, and while any means may be used for attaching the innerend of the tube or pipe 65 to the valve 61, it is preferredthat theflexible connection which will now be described be used in View of itsgeneral practicability and the continued preservation of the diameter ofthe inner attached end of the tube or pipe 65 relatively to the valve orcutoff 60. Moreover, by using a flexible attaching extremity for thetube or pipe 65 relatively to the valve 60, all liability of injury tothe attached extremity of the said tube or pipe is obviated. Thepreferred form of flexible connection or inner attaching extremity ofthe tube or pipe 65 relatively to the valve 60 consists of a pluralityof nested truncated tubular sections 66 having the inner reduced portionof one fitting in the outer enlarged portion of the other, and theedges, as at 67 projected inwardly so as to form an unobstructed passagefor the cotton through the flexible attaching extremity. It is obviousthat the flexible attaching extremity must be air-tight as well as havefree movability, and to meet this contingency the intermediate portionof each section 66, as clearly shown by F igs. 7 and 8, is formed with acircumferential groove, indentation or seat 68 at a point about midwaybetween the inner and outer ends of each section. A canvas or otherair-tight fabric tube or covering 69 is fitted over the sections 66 andsecured at its opposite ends in an air-tight manner to the innerextremity of the tube or pipe 65 fitting in the flexible connection andalso to the valve 60 around the opening 61. After the tube or covering69 has been applied as just stated, wire clips or clamps 70 are appliedover and around the said tube or covering at the points where the seats68 are formed in the sections and have a tight drawing action impartedthereto by twisting the ends thereof, as shown by Fig. 8, and by suchmeans the canvas covering or tube 69 is closely drawn into the outerportions of the-seats 68 and the sections are held in normal associationand the joints between the sections 66 are also positively sealed andrendered air-tight, but at the same time the attaching extremity for thetube or pipe 65 embodying the several parts just explained is free tomove in all directions without in the least modifying the interiordiameter of the attaching extremity or setting up the least occlusion ofthe passage of the cotton to either the tube or pipe 40 or the supplypipe 24 in accordance with the adjustment of the valve 60.

The cotton is elevated by the pipe 65 either to the pipe 24 or to thetube or pipe 40, as hereinbefore described, and if the cotton requirescleaning, the valve 60 is pushed upwardly until the flexible connectingextremity of the pipe 65 registers with the opening 53 in the valveplate 52 and the supply pipe 24: of the cleaner. If the cotton is verydirty the valve 25 in the inlet in closure 5 is closed over the opening23 and the opening 22 is clear for entrance of the cotton into thechamber 19. The mechanism having been regularly started and the supplyof the cotton disposed as just explained, the suction created in thepipe 41 is exerted through the tube or pipe 40 and the outlet or exitopening 36 relatively to the interior of the cleaner, and the cotton isthen drawn through the pipe 24 into the chamber 19 and partially cleanedand then through the opening 13 in the partition 12, being assisted torapidly pass through the said opening by the beater arms 21. The beaterarms 17 in the drum or cylinder 6 receive the cotton from the chamber 19and throw or force it outwardly by centrifugal action against the screenwall of the drum or cylinder 6 and at the same time feed the cottonlongitudinally through the latter drum or cylinder. The cotton inpassing through the drum or cylinder 6 is practically cleaned orrelieved of all the dust and dirt therein, the dust and dirt fallinginto the trough 15 and carried off through the outlet 28 as hereinbeforeindicated. The

- cotton is finally drawn into the supplementively to the outlet, andfrom the chamber- 39 the cotton passes into and through the conveying ordistributing tube or pipe -10 and thence to the several gins in theusual manner. Should the operating means for the shaft 16 cease toactuate the said shaft from any cause whatever, or if the band or beltshould slip from the driving means of said shaft, the feed of the cottonrelatively to the cleaner will be automatically stopped or checkedwithout liability of choking the cleaner, and this automatic operationis due to the cotton flow checking and regulating means embodying thechamber 19 with the foraminous wall 20 and the group of smaller beaterarms 21 on the shaft 16 in the chamber and especially the openings 14;in the partition 12 which are exterior of the foraminous covering 20. Assoon as the shaft 16 stops, the suction force continuing within thecleaner will cause the. cotton entering the chamber 19 from the pipe 2 1to freeze over and close the foraminous covering or wall 20 of'the saidchamber and the cotton in the said chamber will occlude the said opening'13 and as aconsequence the suction force will be relieved or shut offfromthe pipe 24 or'the inlet 22 engaged by said pipe and a comparativelvsmall amountof cotton will accumulate in the chamber 19. As soon as theshaft 16 is again set in motion the beater before and be deliveredthrough the outlet 36 without requiring manual attention or -manualrelief of the cotton within the cleaner. This automatic stopping andstartmg operation of'the cleaner is a very important feature and willresult in the cleaner having a. greater output within a given time thanwould be the case Where it has been necessary to manually relieve achoked cleaner resulting from a stoppage of the shaft and beater arms asin cleaning devices heretofore constructed. Moreover, the automaticchecking and regulating of the flow of cotton as just explained relievesthe cleaner of injurious strain, and therefore the cleaner is moredurable and economical in its use. If the cotton is only moderatelydirty, or if the cotton is green and damp and will not stand a full runof the cleaner, the valve 25 is opened and the cotton is then caused totraverse only a portion of or be short-circuited relatively to thecleaner. Should the cotton run clean, or should a grade of cotton bebrought to the battery of gins or ginnery in which the improved cleanerattachment is installed that does not require cleaning treatment, thevalve 60 is pulled downwardly until the upper stop 62 engages the upperend of the adjacent guide 55, and when the valve has been so adjustedthe opening 61 thereof Will be in registra tion with the lower opening54 in the valve plate 52 and the outer end of the conveying ordistributing tube orpipe 40, and the suction created in the suction pipe11 will then draw the cotton directly through the tube or pipe 40 andinto the several feeders of the gins, the cotton being drawn past thechamber 39 and the cleaner remaining dormant or at such time beingpractically a dead air chamber in View of thejfact that the suctionforce will be cut off therefrom. When found necessary or when a run ofuncleaned cotton appears during the run or feed of clean cotton, forinstance, the valve 60 can be quickly changed as to its adjust- .ment orposition and throw the cleaner into commission or cause theuncleaned'cotton to be fed through the pipe 2-1 into the cleaner and beoperated upon by the beater arms as hereinbefore explained.

The improved .cleaning attachment is simple in its construction andoperation and may be readily applied in operative position withoutmaterially modifying the usual or well known form of pneumatic cottondistributing elevators, and it is obvious that the facility whereby thecourse ofthe cotton may be changed so as to pass wholly or partiallythrough the cleaner, or directly through the pipe or tube 40, willresult in a very much larger'output of .a ginning organization orbattery of gins within a given time, as all the operations arepractically ply for conveying the cotton through the.

conveying or distributing pipe or tube. Moreover, the usual length ofthe well known form of pneumatic cotton distributing elevator is notincreased by the addition thereto or association therewith of theimproved cleaner attachment, as the latter is placed in a position alongone side of the cotton distributing elevator organization which isusually unoccupied, and by this means difliculties often encountered inregard to the practical installation of cleaning attachments or cleaningdevices relatively to ginning organizations are fully overcome, with amore effective operation relatively'to the treatment of the cotton and agreater output of the ginning organization within a given timerelatively to organizations equipped with cleaning attachments asheretofore constructed and arranged.

In the application of the cleaner to the pneumatic cotton elevator anddistributer pipes 40 and 4:1, as shown by Fig. 13, the valve plate 52,valve 60 and the structural features incidental thereto as heretoforeexplained are omitted. In the organization shown by Fig. 13, theelevating tube or pipe is connected to or forms a part of thedistributing tube or pipe 40, and the cotton supply pipe 24 intersectsor is branched from the said pipe 65 and connects with the cleaner asheretofore explained. At the point of juncture of the pipes 65 and 2 avalve 71 is located and is readily operable by means of a lever 7 2connected thereto to set up communication between either the pipes 65and 24 and shut off the distribut-' ing pipe 40, or to cut out the pipe211* and establish communication between the pipe (35 and saiddistributing pipe 40, so that the cleaner may be used when desired, andif unnecessary to use the cleaner it may be cut out and the cotton bethen supplied directly to the distributing pipe.

In both organizations for controlling communication of the cleaner withthe cotton elevating pipe 65 or 65 the essential features or theprinciple of the invention is the same, namely, a means to throw thecleaner into or out of communication with relation to the cottonelevating supply, and means, whenthe use of the cleaner is unnecessary,to deliver the cotton directly from the cotton elevating pipe into thecotton distributing pipe. The cleaner outlet in both forms ororganizations involving the pneumatic cotton distributer has its outletcontinually communicating with the distributer pipe 40, and in otherrespects also the cleaner has the same construction and arrangement asheretofore described.

In a broader sense a cleaning circuit having a cotton supply connectionis cooperatively organized with the distributer pipe of a pneumaticcotton elevator and a cotton elevating pipe, and therewith means arearrangedto entirely cut out the said circuit from the cotton elevatingpipe and distributer pipe when the service of said circuit isunnecessary.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a pneumatic cotton distributing organizationembodying suction, distributing, and elevator pipes, of a cotton cleanerdisposed along one side of the organization and having an inletindependent of the distributing pipe and an outlet intersecting andfully and continually opening into the distributing pipe, the ele vatorpipe being connectible either to the inlet of the cleaner or thedistributing pipe.

2. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing and elevatingorganization embodying suction, distributing, andelevator pipes, acotton cleaner disposed along one side of the said organization andhaving inlet means independent of the suction and distributing pipes andan outlet directly communicating continually with and opening into thedistributing pipe, the elevator pipe being connectible either to thesaid inlet means of the cleaner or the distributing pipe, the suctionforce being exerted in the cleaner and relatively to the inlet pipe todraw the cotton into the cleaner when the elevator pipe is connected tothe inlet means of the cleaner solely by way of the outlet of thecleaner through the distributing pipe from the suction pipe.

3. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing elevatororganization embodying suction, distributing, and elevator pipes, and acotton cleaner along one side of the organization and provided with aninlet means communicating with one extremity and intermediately withrelation to the cotton cleaner, the cotton cleaner also having an outletcontinually opening into the dis tributing pipe, the inlet means of thecleaner being independent of the distributing pipe and the elevator pipeconnectible either to the said inlet means or the distributing pipe, thesuction force being exerted in the cleaner by way of the outlet thereoffrom the distributing pipe to effect supply of cotton to the cleaner. Y

4. The combination of a pneumatic elevator organization comprisingsuction, distributing, and elevator pipes, and a cotton cleaner providedwith an inlet means independent of the distributing pipe and with anoutlet at one extremity directly and continually opening into thedistributing pipe, the cleaner also having cleaning devices thereinwhich operate to feed the cotton therethrough, the cleaner as a wholebeing structurally independent of the suction and distributing pipes,the elevator pipe being connectible either to the independent inletmeans of the cotton cleaner or to the distributing pipe.

i 5. The combination with a pneumatic distributing elevator embodyingthe usual suction and distributing pipes, of a cotton cleaner providedwith an inletmeans independent of the distributing elevator and an endoutlet opening into the distributing pipe, and cleaning devices therein,the cleaner as a whole being arranged adjacent to the elevator andconstituting and operating as a cotton cleaning circuit relatively tothe distributing pipe of the elevator, cotton being movable full lengthof the cleaner or only partially therethrough.

6. The combination with a cotton distributing elevator organizationembodying suction, distributing and elevator pipes, of a cotton cleanerlocated exteriorly of the line of suction and distributing pipes andprovided with an inlet means structurally independent of the said pipesand an outlet means directly and continually opening into thedistributing pipe, the cleaner having cleaningdevices therein, theelevator, pipe being connected either to the structurally 1ndependentinlet means of the cleaner onto the distributing pipe.

7. The combination of a pneumatic cotton elevator organization embodyingsuction, distributing, and elevator pipes, and a cotton cleaner free ofthe usual bypass and located exteriorly of and along the side portion ofthe suction and distributing pipes and provided with inlet meansindependent of the distributing pipe and an outlet means intersectingand continually opening directly into the distributing pipe, theelevator pipe being connectible either to the inlet means of the cleaneror to the distributing pipe, the cleaner having mechanical expellingdevices adjacent to the outlet thereof to assist in discharging thecleaned cotton to the distributing pipe.

8. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing elevatororganization embodying suction, distributing and elevator pipes, and acotton cleaner arranged along the side portion and exteriorly of thesuction and distributing pipes, the cotton cleaner being provided withan inlet pipe connected thereto and independent of the distributing pipeand an outlet means comprising an enlarged chamber at one side servingas a passage between the cleaner and the distributing pipe andcontinually open to the latter, the elevator pipe being connectible forthe fiow of cotton therefrom either to the inlet ofthe I cleaner or thedistributing pipe.

' and having inlet openings at" one end and intermediately thereof and"an end outlet opening at one side wlth an enlarged outlet chamberthereover into which the cotton is vices.

discharged, the said enlarged chamber intersecting and directly openinginto the distributing pipe and the latter having an opening thereinequal in dimensions to the extremity of the chamber intersecting thesame to insure a free and extensive delivery of the cotton to the saiddistributing pipe, the elevator pipe being connectible to either of theinlet openings of the cleaner or to the distributing pipe.

10. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing elevatororganization embodying .suction, distributing and elevator pipes, and acotton cleaner having an inlet pipe connected thereto and an outlet atone end, the cleaner also provided with an automatically operatingcotton feed flow chamber and regulating means and cleaning devicestherein, the outlet of the cleaner continually opening into thedistributing pipe, the elevator pipe being connectible either to thedistributing pipeor the inlet pipe of the cotton cleaner.

11. The combination with a pneumatic cotton distributing elevatorembodying suction and distributing pipes, of a cotton cleaner havingcleaning devices therein and provided with an end inlet and an outlet atthe oposite end, the cotton cleaner being also provided with anautomatic cotton flow check and regulating chamber adjacent to the endinlet and operating through the action of the cotton to cut off thesuction force and having feed devices therein.

12. The combination with a pneumatic cotton distributing elevatororganization comprising suction, distributing, and elevator pipes, and acot-ton cleaner adjacent to and exteriorly along the suction anddistributing pipes and provided with an inlet means independent of thedistributing pipe and an outlet solely and constantly in communicationwith the distributing pipe, the

elevator pipe being shiftably associated withrelation to the inlet meansof the cleaner and the distributing pipe and connectible:

to either the said means or distributing pipe whereby a cleaning circuitfor the cotton may operate with relation to the distributing pipeor thesupply of cotton entirely out direction over the cleaning devices oronly part-way of the length of the cleaning de- 1,23s,oas

v or only partially longitudinally traverse the said cleaning devices.

15. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing elevatorembodying suction, distributing, and elevator pipes, and a cottoncleaner associated with and exteriorly of the suction and distributingpipes and having an outlet continually open to the distributlng pipe andalso provided with inlet means operative to cause the cotton to fully oronly partially traverse the cleaner, the elevator pipe being operativeto supply cotton to the inlet means of the cleaner or be cut off fromthe latter and directly feed the cotton to the distributing pipe.

16. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing organizationembodying suction, distributing, and elevator pipes, and

a cotton cleaner having an outlet continually opening into thedistributing pipe and an inlet provided with a supply pipe independentof the'distributing pipe, the elevator pipe being shiftable andconnectible either to the supply pipe of the cleaner or to thedistributing pipe.

17. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing organizationembodying suction, distributing and elevator pipes, and a cotton cleanerhaving cleaning devices therein and an outlet continually opening intothe distributing pipe, the cleaner also having an inlet provided with asupply pipe, and means with two distinct openings therein to which theterminals of the dis-' tributing pipe and the cotton supply pipe areindependently connected, the elevator pipe being shiftably supported onthe said means and connectible to either the supply pipe of the cleaneror the distributing pipe and shutting ofl either of the latter pipesrelatively to each other when the elevator pipe is in connection withone of said pipes 18. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributingorganization embodying suction, distributing and elevator pipes, acotton cleaner having an inlet with a supply pipe independent of thedistributing pipe and. an outlet opening continually into thedistributing pipe, and a fixed means to which the terminals of thedistributing pipe and the supply pipe are connected and openly "exposed,the elevator "pipe being shiftably supported by said fixed means andregistrable with either the distributing pipe or the supply pipe of thecleaner and cutting off the supply of cotton to either one of the latterpipes with which it is not in registration.

19. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing elevatorembodying suction, distributing and elevator pipes, and a cotton cleanerhaving an outlet at one extremity opening continually into. thedistributing pipe and a supply pipe attached to another portion thereof,the elevator pipe being shiftable and having means to cause aregistration thereof either with the supply pipe of the cleaner or withthe distributing pipe and to close on" either one of the latter pipeswith which it is not in registration.

20. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing organizationembodying suction, distributing, and elevator pipes, a cotton cleanerhaving a supply pipe attached thereto and an outlet continually openinginto the distributing pipe, and fixed means having openings therethroughwith which the ends of the distributing and supply pipes independentlyregister, the elevator pipe having its delivery extremity movablysupported by said fixed means and shiftable to register either with theopening of the distributing pipe or the cotton supply pipe and providedwith a device which will close the op ing and prevent suction actionthrough eitiier of the pipes with which the delivery terminal of theelevator pipe is out of registration.

21. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing organizationembodying suction, distributing and elevator pipes, and a cotton cleanerhaving an outlet at one extremity opening into the distributing pipe andan inlet having a supply pipe independent of the distributing pipe, theelevator pipe being provided with a flexible extremity shiftable toregister with either the supply pipe of the cleaner or the distributing'pipe to change the flow of cotton from the pipe, the elevator pipehaving a flexible extremity shiftable to register either with thedistributing pipe or sald cotton circuit, said flexible extremity of theelevator pipe comprising a plurality of interfitted truncated sectionshaving intermediate seat grooves, a canvas covering over said seatgrooves, and wire clips engaging the said coverin and forcing the sameinto the grooves to ho d the sections in normally associated relation inconnection with the covering.-

23. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing organizationembodying suction, distributing, and elevator pipes, and a cottoncleaning circuit having a cotton supply means independent of thedistributing pipe and an outlet in continual communication With saiddistributing pipe, the terminals of the cotton supply means of thecleaning circuit and of the distributing pipe being normally open andhaving means for holding the same in fixed separated relation, theelevator pipe being shiftably supported with relation to the said fixedmeans and provided witha sliding device to close the open terminal ofeither the supply means for the cleaning circuit or the distributingpipe when in registration with either of the latter.

24. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing organizationembodying suction, distributing, and elevator pipes, a cotton cleanerhaving cotton inlet means provided with a cotton supply pipe independentof the distributing pipe and an outlet in uninterrupted.communicationwith the said distributing pipe, and means for permitting the elevatorpipe to be shifted relatively to the inlet terminals of the distributingpipe and the cotton supply pipe of the cleaner to open the elevator pipeto either the distributing pipe terminal or the cleaner cotton supplyterminal or to entirely cut oil the said cotton supply pipe or the distributing pipe to modify the travel of the cotton from the elevator pipein either one of two directions.

25. The combination of a pneumatic cotton distributing organizationhaving suction distributing and elevator pipes, a cleaning circuitincluding cleaning mechanism arranged to operate successively upon thecotton and to move the cotton lengthwise either one of through thecleaner, and means for feeding the cotton to the cleaner at fixed inletsto cause the cotton to either Wholly or partially traverse the cleaningdevices.

26. A cotton elevating and cleaning circuit comprising suction,distributing, and elevating conduits, a supply conduit for the cleaningcircuit independent of the distributing conduit, the cleaning circuithaving an outlet in continual communication with the distributingconduit, and means for opening the elevating conduit either to thedistributing conduit or the supply conduit of the cleaning circuit andfor closing ofi either of the latter two conduits When the elevatingconduit is in registration With either one of the same.

27. The combination of a pneumatic cot- .ton distributing organizationhaving suction, distributing and elevator pipes, and a cleaning circuitwith cleaning devices therein having inlet means to cause the cotton totraverse all or only a part of the cleaning devices, and an outlet incontinual communication With the distributing pipe and provided With asupply pipe adapted to have communication with the distributing pipe,the cleaning circuit being under suction influence from the suction pipethrough the distributing pipe, the distributing pipe and the supply pipehaving means for closing ofi ing supplied with cotton.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

CHAS. S. HYER, SADm STANFORD WHITE.

the same when the other is be-

